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Stress Busters for Professionals

If the stress you are feeling now is coming mostly from your work, you have to do something about. It is not like you can easily take a vacation leave and be free from the problems at work. You sure must have considered looking for another job, but you should know that these days, especially with the global economic recession going on lately, landing a nice-paying job is not as easy as picking dirt on the street. You must have tried combating work stress with various methods. Unfortunately, they did not work out as you expected it to be. Or,…
August 22, 2009 - - Comments:

Relaxation Techniques

Having a good-paying or even just a well-compensating job is not only part of developing personal career but it is also one of the ultimate means of survival. You may be enjoying the kind of work you have now but there will really be a point in your life at work wherein you will simply feel lazy but worse is when you get tired and fed up with the daily task assignments. Some people become victims of work stress. This condition makes them feel like they have to drag themselves to the office and force themselves to be at work….
August 23, 2009 - - Comments:

Yoga for Stress Relief

Have you been stressing out lately at work? Do you feel you find it hard to manage because you barely even have time for that? If stress is getting down on you gradually, you might as well allocate a time during weekends to join yoga sessions. One of the most effective stress relief techniques is yoga. This form of meditation exercise is proven to enhance stress management and relaxation skills. There are many yoga classes offered everywhere since this is becoming a popular form of relaxation exercise. However, if you want to just do yoga at home on a lazy…
August 24, 2009 - - Comments:

When to Seek Medical Help

Dealing with the pressures of life is part if living and survival. We all want to live a life that is free from any form of harm and worries. Though this ideology may seem ideal, there is a greater chance that we can still minimize getting into the tragedies and harsh realities of life while living a peaceful and abundant way of living. This, of course, mainly depends on each individual. If there is determination to live a fruitful life, it can be achieved. However, if there is lack of motivation and persistence to struggle free from a troubled life,…
August 25, 2009 - - Comments:

Why Do Conflicts Arise?

In an organizational process, the management has many aspects to consider for a workplace to be harmonious and successful. One of these things that should not be left unattended is any presence of conflict. Conflict happens when individuals or groups do not meet their needs and when they do not find satisfaction to their own wants or self-interest. Conflict can be internal when the conflict is only within the individual; it is external if it is between two or more individuals or between groups. Some people are not aware of the need and react negatively toward the situation unconsciously. Some…
August 28, 2009 - - Comments:

Conflict Indicators

Conflict is a natural disagreement and a clash of interests, ideas, goals, and values of individuals and groups. Once any form of dispute or difference arises, conflict is bound to occur. This has always been a natural part of life in every individual, just as successes and achievements are. We all deal with conflict at home, in our society, and in the workplace. The quick resolution of an existing conflict depends on how a person or a group handles the situation. But a very important process is to be able to identify the signs of a rising conflict. Let us…
August 30, 2009 - - Comments:

Constructive Conflict

Many of us are not really comfortable getting involved in a disagreement with another individual. Some would rather please and accommodate instead of engaging themselves in a heated discussion. When we sense that conflict is starting to build up, there are people who just walk away from it. Seeing smiles and hearing friendly voices are what we really want to witness, not criticisms and confrontations. But even with the existence of conflict, we can turn the situation into a positive one and learn from it. Conflict may be unproductive at times, but it is also constructive when properly handled. A…
August 30, 2009 - - Comments:

Destructive Conflict

Conflict is inevitable, yet it can be controlled and minimized. How an individual or a group responds to conflict and the behavior towards the situation determines the negative or positive outcome of the disagreement. If conflict is mishandled or not properly managed by the parties involved, then an unproductive and unlikely result will be generated. Have you ever been in a fight or argument with an office colleague because of clash of interest or attitude and you cannot seem to meet in the middle? We call this destructive conflict. This type of conflict produces poor quality decisions from the individuals,…
August 31, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Avoid Conflicts

Though conflicts are inevitable in our lives, getting in such a situation causes stress and the amount of stress a person gets depends on the intensity of the conflict. Nevertheless, conflict is a source of stress, and when it becomes severe, stress can be destructive on an individual. While there is a way to avoid conflict especially if it is unnecessary and unproductive, do so and be practical. There are many ways to do so depending on the situations. In the workplace conflict, for example, the approach to resolving it should not be personal. A diplomatic and civil way to…
September 1, 2009 - - Comments:

Standard Steps to Resolve Conflict

Conflict in the workplace is but a natural and normal part of every working individual’s life. People get into conflict due to pursuance of personal goals and satisfaction of needs. Conflicts are truly unavoidable but it is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, effectively resolved conflicts can promote personal and professional development. Not a lot of us may know that conflict resolution takes skills. The positive or negative results are defined by proper conflict resolution skills. With an effectively resolved conflict, not just one issue is solved but differences in attitudes and values. Moreover, it offers some advantages that…
September 2, 2009 - - Comments:

Practical Conflict Resolution Skills

It takes skill to learn how to deal with workplace conflicts even for those trivial misunderstandings among employees. These skills are simple but they are not learned and used well by most of us as we grow up. Especially for managers, being in their position, they must understand the two essential areas in learning conflict management skills: conceptual aspect and skill competence aspect. Conceptual skills pertain to an individual’s knowledge of the causes, styles, strategies, and ways in managing conflict. Knowing how and why conflicts develop, when it normally happens, and how to resolve it are important concepts for conflict…
September 3, 2009 - - Comments:

Conflict Mediation

Conflicts normally just involve two parties who are in a disagreement over their perceptions or having differences in attitudes and values. Trivial conflicts can be settled over a quick discussion but larger conflicts may require a mediator or an intervener. Mediation is a process wherein a third party gets in the way of the conflicting parties. Mediators act like facilitators in a session who guide the members in the process until an agreement is achieved. Organizational conflicts are usually large and may require the help of conflict mediation as an approach to conflict resolution. Basically, as a communication facilitator, the…
September 4, 2009 - - Comments:

Managing Team Conflicts

A misunderstanding or any form of dispute may be coming from two individuals or from group differences. This situation is especially true in a team. More commonly though, team or group conflicts occur in a workplace situation. If the group or team members work together in resolving conflicts rationally and effectively, conflict management is a lot easier for similar situations in the future. However, with individual differences and diversity among the individuals, some team conflicts require extra efforts to reach a negotiation for a common resolution. Being able to resolve any disagreement is the key objective in the nature of…
September 5, 2009 - - Comments:

Common Conflicts During Project Management

According to a theoretical supposition in behavioral research, when we work together with others, we do so unselfishly in order to achieve a common objective. This assumption can be best applied to project management and in organizations. Unfortunately, this is not how the people and organizations do it in reality. Instead, certain conditions and workplace issues are encountered. Due to some work discrepancies, political conflict among managers is prevalent and abuse of power occurs. There is lack of open communication, low level of trust and respect, and lack of mutual support. Resentment and hostility among individuals is widespread. Existing organizational…
September 7, 2009 - - Comments:

Conflict Resolution Tips for Managers

In most organizations, the higher management is expected of bigger and more challenging responsibilities. Even in the rise of employee conflicts, managers act as mediators. They can step up as the authority figure for members who are involved in a conflict. Just imagine an office without efficient managers to intervene and act as “referees” during times of arguments or quarrels. Being a manager, you should be able to identify arising conflicts and take pre-emptive measures using your abilities. Those in the higher management should understand the nature and causes that may develop conflict among their members as well as the…
September 8, 2009 - - Comments:

Conflict Resolution Tips for Employees

Workplace conflict is an unavoidable situation that can occur to every employee in the organization. Misunderstanding can happen between employees or even the employer and employees. If the goals of the employees are not in line with that of the management, this usually becomes the common root of conflict. Dealing with this kind of conflict is easy because between the two parties, the management takes the lead in getting to a resolution. However, in cases wherein employees disagree with each other, managing the conflict may be quite challenging. In some situations, if the employees possess the proper conflict resolution skills,…
September 9, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Maintain Harmony at Workplace

The workplace is one of the most common places for conflicts. Considering the workplace situation, employees establish a kind of relationship among each other that keeps a diplomatic approach but usually does not go beyond personal level, though there are other relationships that develop into a deeper stage. Employees have to socialize with their coworkers because people in the workplace work collaboratively. Each individual and department does not have their own rules and goals. Everyone works and takes an effort to achieve a common goal for the benefit of the organization. Office departments are interrelated in their functions. Even the…
September 11, 2009 - - Comments:

Conflict Counseling

Conflicts in organizations do not necessarily equate to a negative and unproductive environment. In fact, disagreements and arguments that lead to conflict are essential for individuals to grow and mature in their work performance. With the existence of conflicts, people realize their mistakes, understand differences in one another, and they strive to make a better organization. However, in cases when conflicts are mismanaged, the results are adverse. In order to resolve a conflict, sometimes a third party is needed and this is especially true for group conflicts. With the help of the mediator, the individuals or the groups are able…
September 12, 2009 - - Comments:

Introduction to Clustering

The usability of computers increase every year as technology constantly evolves to something better. The computer that was presented almost a decade ago cannot even do a fraction of what a computer does today. From simple document creation and editing to complicated movie editing, a computer could virtually do it all today. No one really knows what a computer could do after five years but it will surely make everyone’s lives a little better as technology provides better assistance to a consumer’s way of life. But our needs cannot be easily met by a single computer. As applications continue to…
September 16, 2009 - - Comments:

Clustering Applications

With the right configuration, clustering can prevent a single point of failure either by distributing workload to different aspects such as workload balancing or by having a back-up node such as HA (High Availability) clustering which implements efficient failover.  The hardware components in clustering are very important. They can push the applications and files faster because of their increased capability. All of these will not be possible if the hardware is not properly installed. Even the external factors that might single-handedly place the clusters in danger should be considered in terms of protecting the hardware from untoward inconveniences. However, the…
September 17, 2009 - - Comments:

Clusters – Monitoring and Measurement

Clustering is a very sensitive part of business operation especially when the business is focused on their online operation. Although highly technical, its stability suggests the success of the company’s operation. Proper clustering ensures that the online or even local network connections will remain stable and optimized. Clustering will also require resources and the right manpower as these requires consistent check and monitoring. But monitoring is not only done by manually checking each node that composes a cluster. There should be monitoring and measurement tools implemented in different nodes so that more data will be available for the administrator. Information…
September 18, 2009 - - Comments:

Virtual Machine Clustering

Virtualization is a very popular concept today. The development of technology has pushed forward the realization that everything could be done online. Instead of a local installation on a gadget, an application could be used online which emulates the functions and even more when compared to local gadget. As long as there is a reliable connection, virtualization is possible. Virtualization could even be implemented in clustering. Instead of physical computers or nodes, virtual nodes are created wherein each node has the same capability except that they are never physical. With the right configuration, clustering could be properly introduced to virtual…
September 20, 2009 - - Comments:

GPU Clusters

Improving cluster performance is all about using the right hardware. Administrators could implement improvements in their clusters with the right equipments that are geared towards improvement of computing. However, the changes required to improve cluster performance could be costly for the business. Additional powerful nodes, better infrastructure and connections and updated application to control the nodes are only some of the requirements in improving the computing performance of the clusters. Some businesses are just forced to contend with what they have and wait for additional revenues before they can implement certain changes. But there is actually an option for administrators to effectively…
September 21, 2009 - - Comments:

Clustering Security

Clustering security is one of the most important factors that needs to be considered during clustering. Connectivity, especially when they are implemented through the internet, is susceptible to any type of attack.  The attacks to clustering of nodes could come in different forms – it could be as simple as a virus wherein its sole purpose is to destroy files or could be a very powerful spyware that can easily hijack the controls of nodes for malicious purposes. Those who want to implement clustering have to make sure the nodes, the connections and the implementation of nodes when it comes to handling workload could…
September 22, 2009 - - Comments:

Clustering on P2P

P2P or Person-to-Person is a type of network wherein the connection is based on different users. Instead of a regular server-client relationship for files, use of applications and other network related activities, the members of the P2P becomes the client and the server. While a member of the network is trying to access an application or download a file, the same member is a server wherein another member of network is trying to access the file. This trend will continue in the entire network. The success of P2P is practically based on the number of active users. However, sharing workload…
September 24, 2009 - - Comments:

Load Balancing Clustering

Every business wants to ensure their online operations such as their e-store or online application for customer service works well anytime of the day. They need to have powerful servers, applications and the right clustering to ensure a fail safe operation for their users. Clustering pushes the functions of an application to be faster or ensures data availability’s faster transfer. With the right clustering form, online or network (for local use) needs could be easily serviced. An ideal clustering form to ensure stability is load balancing. Clustering by load balancing is basically a form of connection between computers (referred to…
September 25, 2009 - - Comments:

Infrastructure Consideration in Clustering

The performance of clustering is based on how the nodes are configured. Although the maintenance, control and monitoring of nodes in the cluster is based on the software that runs through different clusters, it is the hardware capability that determines how far the application could be pushed further. No matter how efficient the application is, the computing capability of the application will still be influenced by the hardware. For that reason, the major consideration in establishing clusters is on the hardware. The right servers, routers, switches etc., is very important and should be planned out from the start. But the…
September 27, 2009 - - Comments:

High Availability Clustering

The trend for most businesses is to provide their services or sell their products online. By tapping the internet, they would be able to expand their customer base not only in their physical location but globally as well. Other businesses that can’t provide their services or sell their products online still use the power of the internet to provide additional information to their prospective customers. The data, products and services they provide have to be available to their customers 24/7. A downtime for businesses means loss of precious customers and destruction of company image. A website or an online store…
September 28, 2009 - - Comments:

Compute Clusters and Grid Computing

Grid computing and compute clusters are two forms of computer clustering that could be differentiated based on the relationship of their nodes. The nodes in grid computing often have little to no relationship with each other as each node provide specific function for the completion of a specific problem or computation. Compute clusters on the other hand requires an active relationship of each nodes so that the right computation could be achieved. Although they could be used for business purposes, these types of computer clusters are usually used for scientific and mathematical purposes as these fields require heavy calculations. Difference…
September 29, 2009 - - Comments:

Two-Node Clusters

Small businesses could be easily affected by any small changes in their business setting. Because of their small operation, they have to make sure that their cash flow is consistent to ensure they would be able to continue operating in the near future. A single downtime in their operation could mean substantial losses that they might be forced to close down. They need to have stability to ensure survival in the rugged business setting. This is the challenge that online small businesses face. They have to make sure their website is up and running to ensure customers are satisfied as…
September 30, 2009 - - Comments:

Clustering through Server Farms

Businesses that have online global operations have to make sure that their data is available for their users 24/7. A single downtime could mean millions of losses as this could reflect not only the company’s inability to provide timely service but would ruin the company’s reputation. Through sheer competition, any business could lose all the clients even for just a single downtime. Most businesses spend thousands or even millions of dollars just to make sure there is no single point of failure and the probable reasons for a downtime could be prevented in advance through infrastructure or application. Although online…
October 1, 2009 - - Comments:

Linux Thin Client Networks Design and Deployment

Linux Thin Client Networks Design and Deployment Considering the Network Much information already exists concerning methods for deploying networks and hardware. We shall try to clarify differences between using a network with personal computers and thin clients with the help of anecdotes. Certain designs have also proven to be very stable and provide the best possible solution. Primary Network Your first thought might be that your current network will work fine with thin clients and that is entirely possible. But your network might be something that has grown through the years and is not that well designed. Your implementation of…
October 2, 2009 - - Comments:

Cluster Supercomputer

The addition of nodes to build a cluster to support file sharing, functions, applications and websites all point to one thing – building a supercomputer. The collection of nodes that would eventually form a cluster would be part of something bigger which could easily support almost any type of workload without showing any signs of downtime. The idea of preventing single point of failure, adding monitoring and measurement tools and even considering the external factors that might jeopardize infrastructure are also small parts towards the ultimate goal of building a supercomputer that will not post any problems while computing. Hardware…
October 3, 2009 - - Comments:

Why Meetings are Important

Why are meetings common in a corporate setting and a business environment? Why do people have to converge and talk about work and business matters? Meetings are organized and conducted in almost every corporate office and business establishment for a specific purpose. Usually, this gathering of individuals is done to deliver new knowledge and information, and discuss crucial issues and team projects. Some organizations hold regular scheduled meetings as part of the routine at work. For them, it is one of the ways to keep each other updated with work matters and a way of keeping track of individual and…
October 7, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Types and Objectives

Members of a company discuss organizational issues and other agenda through a personal gathering or through a conference call. A meeting is a routine activity in a company. It is even part of the weekly itinerary of many working individuals and business people. Meetings can be formal or informal, but for the most part, organizational meetings usually take a formal setting where preparation must be done to properly plan and execute the meeting. There are various types of meetings that may depend on its nature and the objectives or purpose of the gathering. Any company can utilize a particular type…
October 8, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Planning

Meetings play an important role in management and communication. An effective meeting increases work productivity, saves time, elicits motivation from employees, and becomes a tool for problem resolution. To the meeting participants, meetings generate new ideas and proposals. Also, it helps disperse conflict in a way that email communication and company memos cannot. How can we make effective and successful meetings? A good and strategic planning contributes to an effective and productive meeting output since desirable results start with good planning anyway. For a business organization, since meetings are needed to discuss strategies, having an effecting meeting planning can be…
October 10, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Agenda

How can meetings run smoothly and end successfully? Aside from having an effective facilitator and active participants, effective meeting agenda is also a key factor. A meeting agenda is a structured outline that highlights the flow of the entire meeting process. It is a meeting framework that keeps the participants in control and focused on the subject matter or topic at hand instead of getting off the track. In other words, it provides a meaningful purpose and direction to any type of meeting. A meeting agenda has to be creative and effective in order to make the meeting a productive…
October 11, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Management and Optimization

In a typical organization, managers and senior executives spend a majority of their work time in meetings. They meet with employees and discuss important work matters and issues. Email and memos are good tools of communication, but a meeting is a lot more effective when issues require in-depth discussion. However, surveys report that almost close to half of those meetings are not totally productive and are even a waste of time for employees. Nevertheless, meetings are deemed essential for quick discussion of goals and tasks. So managers and even meeting facilitators must have the proper skills to proceed with an…
October 12, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Preparation

Any event or activity that is poorly planned and lacks rehearsal often generates a negative and weak result. Things get messed up when the participants or the individuals involved are at a loss as to what to do and what roles to perform. An effective and successful meeting can be greatly attributed to adequate preparation by the meeting facilitator or organizers. Whether it is a formal or informal meeting, its outcome relies not just on the participants but on how well the preparation was made throughout the whole process. The facilitator or in-charge is responsible for spearheading the necessary preparations…
October 14, 2009 - - Comments:

Time Management during Meetings

In a meeting facilitator’s role, one of the most challenging is time management. Time is limited and constrained in a meeting, so there are times when time runs out before the meeting is even adjourned, leaving some issues untouched and some tasks unassigned. The facilitator must make sure that all issues are thoroughly discussed and the process is completed upon the given time expectation. Keeping track of time can be achieved through the help of the participants. Factors of Time Management in Meetings Knowing the purpose and the need to conduct a meeting in person is important since meetings are…
October 15, 2009 - - Comments:

Meetings Follow-up

Meetings can have different frequency options depending on the need and purpose. Meeting organizers may decide whether another session should be conducted or a one-time meeting will suffice. Regardless of the number of repetitions a meeting may have, the meeting facilitator must make sure that a meeting follow-up is performed. It does not necessarily have to be another meeting but simply a spot check of any work progress. Making a follow-up is simply monitoring the progress of any task assigned to the participants during the meeting. But in some cases, a team may need to go through another meeting to…
October 17, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Participants Roles and Responsibilities

You may have noticed that every company and organization conducts meetings regularly. You must have attended meetings yourself frequently especially if you work in an office or even a business establishment. These sessions are deemed important because it is through these gatherings that essential organizational issues and many predetermined topics are brought to the table and discussed by every participant involved. What are the different roles and responsibilities of the attendees in a meeting? Depending on the type of meeting conducted, selected individuals are called to join the session. For example, a departmental meeting consists exclusively of those who are…
October 18, 2009 - - Comments:

Advantages of Meetings

A face-to-face discussion of organizational topics and issues can be conducted in various methods. In this modern day and age, individuals conveniently communicate through emailing and conference calls which limit the ability of people to express ideas only through the power of words. However, traditional meetings allow individuals to facilitate discussion and interaction in a face-to-face manner, allowing the participants to express their opinions freely with the help of nonverbal communication. Body language and physical gestures, which are not possible through emailing and phone calls, play vital roles in meetings. Most of us find it easy expressing our ideas along…
October 20, 2009 - - Comments:

Disadvantages of Meetings

Although organizing meetings at work is essential in attaining a specific purpose and achieving goals, there are also disadvantages and drawbacks in meetings. A meeting would turn out to be ineffective if the organizer failed to properly facilitate the session and if the meeting agenda is not observed. Basically, these are the two major outcomes of an unsuccessful meeting. There are many factors and other adverse effects that may occur in a poorly facilitated meeting. Because of the lack of supervision, conflicts are bound to happen, decisions become hard to attain, and participants may even lose track of the key…
October 21, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Conduct Effective Meetings

Meetings, for the most part, are plain talks and discussions. You cannot expect fun and perks in a meeting. Instead, the atmosphere is one that is serious. If a meeting is not properly facilitated, it can become pointless and ineffective. Meeting facilitators have to make sure that it turns out to be insightful and effective by knowing the methods in running a session. The role of being a meeting organizer or facilitator may not be that easy, but the things to do are not that complicated, either. Unless the facilitator fails to follow the important steps in conducting a meeting,…
October 26, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Avoid Arguments during Meetings

Conflicts are rooted from differences and contrasting ideas between individuals. Disagreements are not naturally bad. In fact, it is normal and a natural part of life since no two individuals share the same viewpoints at all times. The person you are talking to may agree with you but you can never tell whether the agreement is just because that is what you want to hear, but not what the person actually believes in. The occurrences of conflicts in meetings at work or in business can be unsettling and disruptive. It may cause delays in the decision making and resolution process….
October 29, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Tips for Managers

Managers must make it a point to constantly keep up with the latest updates about their team’s progress and individual performance through regular meetings. Constantly communicating with them is a good way to discuss work issues and deliver new information. Effective managers never fail to schedule regular staff meetings. Whether it is a personal or one-on-one meeting or a group meeting, the important thing is that open communication is encouraged between the manager and the members. When can managers call for a meeting with their subordinates? When is it necessary to convene with them as a team or talk to…
October 30, 2009 - - Comments:

Meeting Tips for Team Members

The meeting participants play an important role in a meeting. They are the intended recipient of the message or information and the ones responsible for the meeting discussion. Without them, a meeting is not possible. Although we may think that the bulk of the job in making effective meetings is on the facilitator or the manager, the participants also portray an essential role. Because of their importance in a meeting, team members must cooperate to achieve the meeting goals and fulfill the purpose of the meeting. In what ways can they show their support and assistance toward the manager or…
October 31, 2009 - - Comments:

Marketing Management Introduction

Marketing management is a broad scope of the study of marketing focusing on the practical application of the techniques and marketing activities of a certain company or business. This business discipline encompasses marketing planning and strategy, orientations, and processes needed in attaining company goals by providing value to clients. Since it has a wide coverage involving all factors required to satisfy customers, marketing management must be all-pervasive and part of every employee’s scope of work, from the subordinates to those in the higher management. Marketing Research and Analysis A business firm must be able to conduct a marketing research and…
November 5, 2009 - - Comments:

Importance of Marketing

Marketing is a very important aspect in business since it contributes greatly to the success of the organization. Production and distribution depend largely on marketing. Many people think that sales and marketing are basically the same. These two concepts are different in many aspects. Marketing covers advertising, promotions, public relations, and sales. It is the process of introducing and promoting the product or service into the market and encourages sales from the buying public. Sales refer to the act of buying or the actual transaction of customers purchasing the product or service. Since the goal of marketing is to make…
November 6, 2009 - - Comments:

Types of Marketing

The concept of marketing encompasses a wide coverage and may even be associated with sales. In fact, sales and marketing are two different concepts although both are closely coordinated. Marketing is the presentation of the products and services and making them available to the customers with the goal of generating profits. Sales, on the other hand, is the output of marketing implementations. A business produces good product sales out of effective marketing programs while poorly planned marketing plans end up in low sales generation. Focusing more on the concept of marketing, a business organization must invest in intensive marketing activities,…
November 7, 2009 - - Comments:

Market Research

A successful business organization takes competition seriously by being aggressive in their marketing campaigns. But a careful company studies the market trend first and understands the movement in the business world before investing on marketing programs which can be costly and risky. One of the ways in studying the market is through a marketing research. This process has to be given high consideration since the outputs and results will help the company figure out the suitable marketing campaigns for the targeted customers. Marketing Research Explained Market research, also referred to as marketing research, is a vital aspect in the concept…
November 8, 2009 - - Comments:

Marketing Orientation

Marketing orientation is defined as the implementation or completion of a marketing concept that essentially caters to the customers. The term is otherwise known as marketing concept or consumer focus. With marketing orientation, a business revolves its strategic decisions around the wants and needs of the target market, including potential customers. A company that is marketing-orientated has the commitment to valuing customers and the customers’ needs. In fact, it can even contribute to the transformation of a company’s business culture. This marketing concept involves three essential steps in being customer-focused. First, the wants and needs of the customers are researched…
November 10, 2009 - - Comments:

Market Segmentation

One of the critical aspects of marketing management is identifying the target market and creating market segments with common specific wants and preferences where a business bases its marketing strategies and orientations. A group of individuals or organizations having similar characteristics causing them to also take on a similar product or service need is called a market segment. This term applies to consumers who are classified into groups according to the use of a similar product or service. Why a Business Needs Market Segmentation When the market is treated as a homogeneous group of individuals where the same marketing mix…
November 10, 2009 - - Comments:

Marketing Analytics

Marketing analytics is the science or study of analyzing the customer data covering marketing research, marketing strategy, and marketing plans. The objective of a marketing analysis is to identify the general interest of the buying public and understand the growing changes and possible threats of the company as they relate to the strong and weak points of the business in the industry. The Need for Market Analysis In the study of evaluating and investigating the market and how the market moves, a market analysis must be conducted by the company. The analysis helps an organization make planning decisions especially in…
November 11, 2009 - - Comments:

Marketing Strategies

A company that aims to reach a wide scope of target market and increase public awareness develops important strategic marketing decisions out of the results of marketing research for the purpose of targeting more potential customers and increasing company profit and revenue. Various marketing strategies are developed according to the needs of the customers and the positioning of competitors based on the results of marketing research. Marketing strategies are designed to target an increase in the business profit and revenue growth by addressing customers’ needs and increasing the level of competitiveness against other companies. Developing marketing strategies is an important…
November 12, 2009 - - Comments:

Understanding Customer Needs

The essence of a business is all about their customers. A company exists because it aims to gain profit and the only source of such profit are the customers. All the sales activities, production, and marketing plans have a common objective and that is to attract customers to purchase their products or services in order to bring in money to the company. Surprisingly, not all companies know and understand their customers fully well. Some companies fail to take time to get to know their customers and relate to them. The old adage that the customers are the lifeline of the…
November 13, 2009 - - Comments:

Developing Customer Relationship

Since customers are the ‘meat of the business,’ companies should put value in building good customer relationships. Once you are able to establish connections, you keep loyal customers who continue doing business with you and bring more people into the business. Good customer relationships drive the business to success. Just make people believe in your ability to satisfy their needs and fulfill their expectations as well as in your products and services. In the process of finding people who would believe in you, consider making a relationship with them and your company will not have to spend huge amounts of…
November 14, 2009 - - Comments:

Creating Effective Advertisement Campaign

Marketing can be one of the most critical and tedious aspects of the business. A company spends money on marketing activities in order to gain public recognition as a way of increasing profit. The ground work of promoting and advertising your products and services is no easy task. A company should not just recklessly spend on advertising without studying their market and the industry. In fact, a good research should be conducted in order to determine how to properly address customers’ needs. Advertising work is a lot of work. And a business must learn techniques to develop effective advertising campaigns….
November 15, 2009 - - Comments:

Global Marketing

A company that takes on a wider scope in their business coverage conquers the global market especially if it has established a competitive advantage in the industry. However, not everything works the same way as how business successfully operates in the domestic field. Some companies fail in going global because of the false assumption that the approaches that work in their country goes true in the international aspect. So, these businesses embark on the same product, same marketing campaigns and even the brand names and packaging. Failure to consider the diversities and differences in culture and other factors may cause…
November 16, 2009 - - Comments:

Online Marketing Techniques

Businesses invest in marketing and product advertisements to gain public awareness and increase the target market. Traditionally, marketing and promotional activities utilize offline marketing such as the print media, television, and radio. But marketers have gone beyond the conventional in their strategies. The advent of internet technology has paved the way for a more dynamic and extensive marketing approach. Almost every business engages in online marketing which elicits more interaction from the customers and even prospects, globally. Developing Brand Name Recognition in the Website A company that ventures into online marketing must maintain a website as their powerful marketing tool….
November 17, 2009 - - Comments:

Email Marketing Tactics

Because marketing and advertising can be costly on the business, some companies resort to cost-effective marketing campaigns and activities. One of which is the email marketing campaign. If you wish to gain public awareness for your business online, this form of advertisement is one of the best ways to utilize. Each day, more and more email users resort to this medium of communication because it is so convenient to use, and so more businesses utilize email marketing as one of the primary advertising campaigns. Email marketing is budget-friendly, convenient, and guaranteed effective in giving public awareness. Permission-Based Email Marketing Marketers…
November 18, 2009 - - Comments:

Unconventional Marketing Tactics

Marketing requires a great deal of creative skills and innovative ideas to develop activities and programs that would capture the interest of the buying public. Because of the competitive nature of marketing among many businesses, marketers in many companies try non-traditional and exceptional forms and means of marketing approaches. These unconventional marketing strategies is otherwise called guerrilla marketing. Guerrilla marketing refers to exceptional and unusual techniques in performing marketing activities with a goal of attaining maximized outputs from minimal resources and expenses. Because these are unconventional forms of marketing, it is all about making good use of creativity and innovative…
November 19, 2009 - - Comments:

Importance of Presentation Skills

Working professionals are required to come up with a presentation during a company or department meeting. If you are a working individual who may be just starting out in your career or who is already at the height of your profession, you need to learn the basics of presentation skills and understand its importance. Regardless of your position or designation in your office, you should be ready in anything that may be required of you to do such as making a presentation. Conducting a Presentation A presentation is like a department or general company meeting. The difference is that in a…
November 23, 2009 - - Comments:

Essential Qualities for Giving Presentation

One of the challenges any working individual will probably encounter in the workplace is to give a presentation. Usually, the boss will appoint the employee to conduct a presentation of a particular agenda. In a sales-oriented and marketing company, the sales representatives will also have to come up with a periodic presentation of their sales report. In related terms, they call it a business review. In order to prepare yourself for any presentation to be done at work, you have to learn the basic skills in delivering a good presentation. This means understanding and being knowledgeable on the topic of…
November 24, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Create Good Atmosphere for Presentation

Every presenter aims to deliver a memorable presentation to his audience, something that would create an impact on their lives or on their viewpoints. As a presenter, you are like the captain of the ship who maneuvers the vessel to the point of destination. In a presentation, apart from the challenge of attaining the objectives, it is also a challenge to keep the atmosphere lively and pleasant from start to finish. As a presenter, it is imperative that you will have to answer questions such as, How will you set the right mood for your presentation? How will you manage to keep a good atmosphere all throughout? For your…
November 25, 2009 - - Comments:

Know Your Audience

Speaking before a group of people consists of important elements. One of these key constituents is the audience. In a presentation, the listeners are one of the very essential components because they act as the judge to your performance. They also play a big role on the achievement of your presentation goals. Without an audience, it would defeat the purpose of a presentation. The audience members may not really have to be a large number; even a one-man audience presentation is already considered a presentation in itself. However, in most cases, audience members usually come in a group or a…
November 26, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Make First Impression

The first-time experiences are always critical in any situation. In the aspect of delivering a speech or a presentation, creating an impressive outcome is as equally important as nailing the objectives. If it is your very first time to ever conduct a presentation in your company, making a good first impression should be a primary goal. ‘The first impressions last’ according to cliché, but do they really? As a presenter, you might want to learn how to leave a good lasting impression to your audience. This you will understand as you progress through the article. First Impression Physical Attributes It…
November 27, 2009 - - Comments:

Presentation Anxiety and Fear

Have you ever spoken before a group of people or a crowd? Everyone must have had their share of it whether it is in school, in your company, or in any other situation that calls for a presentation or public speaking. Looking back on the first time you ever spoke to an audience, the experience must have been unforgettable and dreadful. Well, they say it is a natural thing to feel that way. Even if you are already a working professional, sometimes you cannot just get rid of fear every time you are asked to make a presentation before a…
November 29, 2009 - - Comments:

Setting Objectives for the Audience

In an oral presentation, setting objectives is as equally important as attaining them. This should be done at the onset of the preparation stage for your presentation. After choosing a good topic to present or after being provided a topic, define first your presentation objectives before going any further with preparing on the other elements. The Essence of Goal-Setting Why is it important to set goals for a particular undertaking? Goals and objectives define the purpose of any task or activity. Even in our individual lives, we each have our own set of goals to help us reach our aspirations….
November 30, 2009 - - Comments:

The Power of Words

When we engage in an oral presentation especially if the purpose is to persuade and convince your audience, we have to make it a point to impress them from start to finish. One of the important elements that should be considered is the use of words and language in a presentation. The Power of Words Words can be so powerful it can build or destroy good relationships and can transform or change viewpoints. In the technical aspect of communication whether oral or written, the choice of words reflects the individual’s personality. Especially in an oral presentation, the words you use…
December 1, 2009 - - Comments:

Creating Effective Visual Aids

In an oral presentation, the auditory sense of the audience is the fundamental method in getting your message across. However, a plain verbal manner of presenting can elicit boredom and slow grasping of ideas. For your audience to understand what you are explaining, visuals will reinforce your message. So, they do not just make use of the auditory sense but visual stimuli as well. But visual aids need to be well-designed to be effective. You cannot just flash them to your audience without explaining what it means. Visual and verbal presentation delivery creates a huge impact to your audience. This…
December 2, 2009 - - Comments:

Presentation Planning

A fundamental element in a successful presentation is preparation. If you are asked to make a presentation, give yourself ample time to organize and plan things out so it will be an impressive result. An effective and successful presentation is a product of carefully planned and well-rehearsed preparation. You need to develop a presentation scheme for an organized approach. In your planning, three essentials should be outlined on your planning sheet. These are establishing your objectives, knowing your audience, and preparing for the content or material. Planning your presentation helps you decide on how to present the content and the…
December 3, 2009 - - Comments:

Presentation Visual Aids

People have various ways and styles in learning. There are good listeners, those who do well in retaining information and comprehending ideas based on what they heard. Others prefer to have a visual learning approach, meaning they need to picture out or envision what they hear so they can easily comprehend. In delivering a presentation, both oral or verbal and visual approach will work best. As in any form of presentation whether professional or informal, the use of visual materials is key to a successful presentation. You let your audience “visualize” or picture out the main points of your topic….
December 4, 2009 - - Comments:

Effective Presentation Guide

Many of us dread public speaking or giving a presentation because the mere thought of speaking before a group of people is enough to bring about nervousness. However, this kind of experience is one good way of building confidence. It may not always be easy talking in front of a crowd but there are ways to manage the fear and anxiety or even recover from a poor presentation. Just follow simple tips to make your presentation experience a memorable and effective one, both for you and your audience. In this article, you will learn the things that should be practiced…
December 5, 2009 - - Comments:

Handling Question and Answer Sessions

The Question and Answer session is part of many presentations. Both the questions and responses are generated by you, as the presenter, and your audience about the subject given. At certain points in your presentation, you ask your audience some questions to check for comprehension of the subject or to elicit ideas from them. In the same way, your audience asks questions for clarification and supplemental information. At all times, you need to anticipate any type of questions from them and be ready with your responses. The kinds of questions and the frequency of asking the questions measure the effectiveness…
December 6, 2009 - - Comments:

Handling Unexpected Events During Presentation

We learned that good preparation is a secret ingredient to a successful presentation. But even if you have rehearsed well enough, do not expect too much. There may be unguarded moments during your presentation that will paint a flaw in the almost too perfect speech. Yet, an effective presenter is ready for any circumstance and possible occurrences. A true professional knows how to handle unexpected and troubling situations. It is more of a conditioned mindset of waiting and preparing when it will come rather than asking if it will ever happen. In learning good presentation skills, mastery of the structure…
December 7, 2009 - - Comments:

How to End Your Presentation Gracefully

The conclusion part is one of the significant and important aspects in a presentation other than the introduction. People remember best the last thing they hear and the last thing you say. In closing a speech or a presentation, it should be more than simply closing it or telling the audience that it is over. You should leave a take-home message or drive them back to the main points and wrap up the talk in full circle to the main objectives. Let us find out some helpful techniques in wrapping up a presentation and making a graceful exit. It is…
December 8, 2009 - - Comments:

Questioning Attitude

A curious person asks a lot of questions. They say that an inquisitive individual doubles the chances of acquiring new and increasing knowledge about many things because the person does not stop asking questions. We all have a questioning attitude even at an early age. Kids seem to have an endless list of questions in their minds about the many wonders that astonish them. They would probably ask what rain is and once you start to give an answer, they will not stop throwing you the “why’s” of everything that happens around them. As a person grows older and matures,…
December 21, 2009 - - Comments:

Types of Questions

Did you ever wonder why we ask questions? We ask questions if we want to find out something that is not known and even with the things that we already have knowledge of. Even little kids ask questions out of curiosity over the many amazing things they see and experience around them. Questions provide answers to our curious minds, things that need reasoning, things we do not understand, and discovery of something new. Questions make us reflect on the way we deal with life and promote a better understanding of why things happen the way they should be. In the…
December 21, 2009 - - Comments:

Open Ended Questions

In any type of conversation, asking questions is a crucial part of it. Effective communication does not just require active listening but also the ability to ask the right, relevant questions. We ask different kinds of questions to the people we talk to. When seeking for more information, we ask open ended questions. These questions are asked to encourage the speaker to talk more about the topic or anything that interests the speaker. Using open-ended questions should be done frequently in a conversation as it makes us “tell our own stories.” The skill of asking questions, particularly open-ended questions, is…
December 22, 2009 - - Comments:

Closed Ended Questions

Questions may be of various forms and purposes but they generally fall into two main types: open ended questions and closed ended questions. Open ended questions are meant to gather more information through elaboration and explanation. Closed ended questions, on the other hand, are asked to verify and confirm, usually eliciting only simple and specific answers. The focus of this article is on the concept of asking closed ended questions and the manner of asking such type of question. We ask questions at any point in our conversation with other people but not all of us are aware of the…
December 23, 2009 - - Comments:

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Asking the right question is very important in order to get the right information and in achieving the purpose of asking questions. When you formulate and ask your questions appropriately, you are able to understand easily, and if comprehension is not fully achieved, you are able to ask more questions that would dig deep into the information. An individual who is able to progress the manner of questioning from easy to moderate to creative level is at the same time developing cognitive growth. This concept was studied and introduced many years ago by an education professor at the University of…
December 24, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Ask Better Questions

We know the fact that asking questions is very critical, yet this reality is often misunderstood and disregarded. It is perfectly normal to be inquisitive. In fact, this behavior even helps a person in learning the things that should be grasped. It also makes us understand why we do the things we do everyday and lead us to knowing what is right and what is wrong. However, questions have to be well-constructed and asked properly. Whenever our questions are weak and poorly created, the chances of getting the information that we want are slim since the questions may be left…
December 25, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Ask Powerful Questions

One of the most effective tools in communication is the ability to ask questions. Being able to ask effective questions is a skill we must acquire. Skillful questioning is one of the key ingredients of solid and successful relationships, strategic planning, and significant exchange of information and opinions. Questions that are poorly constructed and weak can lead to a poor communication exchange and may cause misunderstanding. Skillful questioning techniques are considered the foundation for powerful questions. With powerful questions, we are able to dig deep into a confusing issue and find out more information, we can compare our personal viewpoints…
December 26, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Formulate Questions

It is human nature to ask questions. We all do so, and this inclination usually starts during our childhood days, and continues until maturity and even up to the last moments of our lives. Just imagine if we all live each day without asking questions. There will be chaos and misunderstandings and we would all be endlessly searching for answers to the things that we want to know. It is not enough to simply ask questions for the sake of asking. Maybe when we were kids, we are spared of making sure that our questions are well-constructed. But as we…
December 27, 2009 - - Comments:

How to Paraphrase Questions

Too often people ask us a lot of questions and some of these may be complicated or not properly structured so we need to repeat back what was asked in order to verify if that is what the person meant. We call this process paraphrasing. The term simply means repeating another person’s ideas in your own understanding but retaining the thought of the statement or question. Simple as it may seem, not everyone applies paraphrasing in all of their conversations. It is a useful technique to help you unlock the real meaning of the statement or question. Most of the…
December 28, 2009 - - Comments:

Questionnaire to Elicit Information

Conducting research is one of the essentials tools used by many organizations as an accurate and precise method of gathering data. The research team must identify what they want from the research or how they want it to be conducted. Failed researches are brought about by the inaccurate use of the research method. A very common method used by most researchers in the collection of data is through the use of questionnaires. Choosing the Type of Questionnaire to Use After deciding to use a questionnaire as the method to conduct research, the next thing to decide on is which type…
December 29, 2009 - - Comments:

Questioning Technique

In the language of computers, if you key in the wrong information or data, you would get the wrong information out. This same premise is true for the aspect of communication as well. You gather wrong answers from wrong questions. So, how do you make it a point to elicit the correct responses with the proper information from others? The answer is simply to ask the right kind of questions. We say that questioning is one of the major tools in communication but asking the right questions is the ingredient of effective communication. Apart from this skill, we can develop…
December 30, 2009 - - Comments:

Questioning Techniques to Promote Thinking

Critical thinking is a very important aspect in every individual. Questioning techniques were designed to develop our cognitive skill. Questions are as good as the responses provided so it is better to sharpen our questioning skills. Our level of thinking is not so much sharpened when the questions asked are more on factual recall or stock knowledge.  We get to hone our cognitive aspect through higher level questions that require more than basic knowledge-level responses. Questions must be constructed in a way that triggers evaluation, analysis, and synthesis of facts and information. Higher level cognitive questions usually start with words…
December 31, 2009 - - Comments:

Provocative Questions

In learning the art of asking questions, you will discover that questions do not only vary in structure but also in motive or intention. There are questions that simply seek for information while some questions are meant to clarify or verify unclear concepts. There are also questions that will motivate a person to act and bring about change either in the perception or in actions. Because questions vary, you even hear people ask you irrelevant and unnecessary questions but still these are considered questions. Although we say that asking questions is good because it stimulates thinking and arouses curiosity, not…
January 1, 2010 - - Comments:

Traits of Strategic Questions

Strategic questioning is a special type of asking questions that creates a difference and brings about change in the personal and social aspects. It lets individuals explore their own tactics and techniques in going about the change. You can also use strategic questioning to help other people come up with their own solutions to any issues or problems. In a larger scope, strategic questioning develops or creates new information instead of communicating what is already known and the person sharing new information has ownership of it. It generates active participation and creates strength for change. Since it encourages change, strategic…
January 2, 2010 - - Comments:

Sales Questioning Techniques

The essence of asking questions is very true in the field of sales. Through questioning, a company will find out how a particular product or service can be advantageous or beneficial to a customer. It also gives entrepreneurs an idea of how the sale can be improved and developed. Proper questioning in sales helps build rapport with customers because the art of selling is all about creating a good relationship between clients and customers. When you know how to entertain your customers with good questioning skills, they are more likely to purchase from you or sign up for your service….
January 3, 2010 - - Comments:

Polygraph Questioning Techniques

Polygraph testing is very much like psychological examinations. A polygraph exam is conducted using a series of tests which are designed to evaluate the truthfulness and deception or fallacies in various situations and aspects. Companies may use it to screen job candidates but more commonly, it is used to investigate criminal incidents. This kind of examination uses different polygraph tests and questioning techniques which we will learn in this article. Types of Polygraph Questioning The major tool of any polygraph examination is the measure of a person’s responses to a set of questions. The various polygraph techniques or tests differ…
January 4, 2010 - - Comments:

Behavioral Questioning Techniques

Interview preparation involves many factors to consider. One of which is the preparation of responses to the questions that will be asked where the meat of the interview process is based on. An interview is basically a question and answer portion between two individuals. When seeking for a job, applicants initially go through interviews during the hiring process. As part of the groundwork, jobseekers must learn the kind of questioning style that interviewers usually apply in order to excel and surpass the interview stage. Traditional interview questions have long been the usual types of questions that simply require straight answers…
January 5, 2010 - - Comments:

Unanswerable Questions

Our minds sometimes amaze us because of its ability to think of things beyond rational and logical thinking. This is why humans are known to be the most valuable creatures on earth because we have a level of cognition that is comparably different from the rest. We have the ability to question the things that are happening around us. More than that, we go beyond plain asking and would even come up with questions that seem illogical and unanswerable. Children are the perfect example of those who tend to ask out-of-this world questions. Notice that they would suddenly ask something…
January 6, 2010 - - Comments:

What is Personality?

Do you ever wonder why whenever we describe someone’s personality, we usually refer to the attitude and behavior? It is because our attitudes speak of our personality. But there is more to behavior and attitude that comprises a person’s character. Our emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being all build up our so-called personality. We become observant of the people around us and those we interact with and study each one’s personality. We usually describe another person’s personality as good or bad. When someone has a rude and unlikeable behavior, we say that the person possesses an undesirable personality. On the…
January 24, 2010 - - Comments:

Components and Aspects of Our Personality

An important part of understanding our personality is learning its components and its essential aspects. Our personality comprises of different fundamental characteristics and constituents that make up the totality of an individual’s whole being. We need to understand what these factors are in order for us to better appreciate our unique personalities. The Three Components of Personality Sigmund Freud is known for his study on the three basic components that greatly affect our personality. He created the three levels of awareness that are congruent to the three different parts of the mind: conscious mind, preconscious mind, and subconscious mind. According…
January 25, 2010 - - Comments:

Different Personality Types

Every human being is indeed unique and has different sets of individual traits and characteristics. Even twins are not completely the same with each other based on studies. We all possess different types of personalities yet we manage to understand each other and interact regardless of these differences. However, not all of us are aware of our individual personality types. In this article, we will learn the different personality types of human beings according to research and careful observation or study of psychological experts. As you go along, learn to discover what type suits you the most and how you…
January 26, 2010 - - Comments:

Know Your Personality

How well do you know yourself? How well do your friends and other people know you? At times, we may think that we completely know our true selves but we may not realize that there are certain things about us that we are not aware of. Did you ever experience being described by others as such when you think it is not you? We have a component of our personality called the unconscious that transcends our conscious self. So beyond our known personal identities, we manifest certain traits and characteristics that we barely recognize from within ourselves. It is important…
January 27, 2010 - - Comments:

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